By Zainab Joaque
Christian Brothers from eight communities in Sierra Leone along with representatives from Ghana and Liberia, friends and members will gather in Freetown on Friday June 1, 2012 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Blessed Edmund Rice.
Rice was born in Callan, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. In 2012, his life and legacy continue to inspire countless people around the globe. His story is preserved and alive in a special way at Mount Sion, Waterford, Ireland, the location of his first community and the final resting place of his remains.
“In this special year of memory and hope, we look forward with Edmund to seek to be faithful to a future shaped by a vision of the Gospel which he embraced with his whole being,” said Phillip Pinto, Congregation Leader.
The West Africa Christian Brothers has communities in Sierra Leone (Calaba Town, Hamilton, Tengbeh Town, Bo, Blama, Makeni and Yengema). In Liberia they work in Gbanga; in Ghana they are based in Tamale and their community in The Gambia has been suspended due to numerical strength.
The Brothers’ traditional role is teaching, but in 1991 they shifted a little from teaching to advocacy, development, governance and social work, which involve working with youths on child protection and family tracing issues. In 2000, the Brothers opened a school in Upper Allen Town called St. Ambrose Academy. A Eucharist will be celebrated on Saturday, June 2 at the St. Edwards Quasi Parish, Kingtom.
Moved by Gospel compassion for the deprivation and suffering of his fellow countrymen, particularly for youth, Edmund, who became a widower in his mid-twenties at the death of his beloved wife, gave up his fortune at the age of 40 to respond to the desperate needs of young people.
He was the first layman of the English-speaking world to found a Religious Congregation dedicated exclusively to the apostolate of Christian education. Two religious congregations of men in the Catholic Church, namely the Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers continue to honour Edmund Rice as their founder and many other groups and individuals around the world also see themselves as followers of the spirit of Edmund.
The Edmund Rice Network is the global umbrella for all the followers of Edmund Rice
